The letter from Perry’s campaign treasurer, Salvatore Purpura, said that Perry received a total of approximately $270,000 that was designated for the general-election campaign. He couldn’t spend any of that on the primary.

His campaign sent letters to general-election contributors asking them to allow their contributions to remain in the account and be used “for purposes consistent with the Committee’s proposed new non-connected PAC status.”

As of Feb. 13, Purpura wrote, contributors had asked for at least $100,000 to be refunded. Others gave their permission for the new use of nearly $30,000.

I’ve asked Perry’s camp if there was other money left in his account. His spokesman, Ray Sullivan, had previously said that Perry had significantly depleted his resources before exiting the primary race.

The Sunlight Foundation wrote that heading a powerful PAC could help Perry “maintain a high political profile and lay the groundwork for another national campaign.”

Perry’s inquiry drew attention from Politico, which wrote that erstwhile candidates usually create “leadership PACs that allow them pay for political staff, travel the country and dole out contributions to favored candidates – all of which helps them keep themselves in the political spotlight and curry favor for potential future runs.”

Politico wrote:

“Super PACs, which were spawned by a 2010 federal court ruling, could be used to maintain a political staff and fund a politician’s travel, but not to make donations to candidates. On the other hand – unlike leadership PACs, other more traditional PACs or campaign committees – super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations and unions. Conceivably, a Perry super PAC could accept huge contributions from wealthy donors and their companies and spend that cash on ads supporting Gingrich or other allied candidates.”